6 Nations - IRELAND v ENGLAND 2nd Feb 2019

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6 Nations

IRELAND v ENGLAND

Saturday 02 February 2019 16:45 GMT

Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Maybe a little early but I for one can not wait for this fixture. 2nd vs 4th.

The 6 Nations is officially the BEST rugby competition........................In the World.

England starting XV (485 caps)

15 Elliot Daly (Wasps, 25 caps), 14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 40 caps), 13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps), 12 Manu Tuiagi (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps), 11 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 29 caps), 10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 65 caps), 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 80 caps); 1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 51 caps), 2 Jamie George (Saracens, 32 caps), 3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 17 caps), 4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 26 caps), 5 George Kruis (Saracens, 27 caps), 6 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 8 caps), 7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 5 caps), 8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 36 caps).

Finishers (206 caps)

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps), 17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps), 18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps), 19 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 68 caps), 20 Nathan Hughes (Wasps, 18 caps), 21 Dan Robson (Wasps, uncapped), 22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps), 23 Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks, 42 caps).

LordDowlais wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:I just hope the ref punish illegal tackles during the 6N.

I'm sure they will, but why bring that up as I don't recall any illegal tackles being made during the AI.

Farrell done it twice.

If we're discussing hypothetical situations that we hope the ref punishes during the 6N, despite them not happening in the AI, then I hope Jonny Sexton is punished for bringing a chainsaw on to the pitch to use as a tackling aid

Can this be the first match thread closed before the match even starts?

I think we can manage it being closed before the year of the match even starts

I don't think Wales will be a problem.

BamBam wrote:I think we can manage it being closed before the year of the match even starts

I have 50 quid on it.

I'm saving my 'crash' post until the tension builds enough.

BamBam wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:

LordDowlais wrote:I just hope the ref punish illegal tackles during the 6N.

I'm sure they will, but why bring that up as I don't recall any illegal tackles being made during the AI.

Farrell done it twice.

If we're discussing hypothetical situations that we hope the ref punishes during the 6N, despite them not happening in the AI, then I hope Jonny Sexton is punished for bringing a chainsaw on to the pitch to use as a tackling aid

I hope it's well into the second half before the TMO spots it.

SecretFly wrote:

BamBam wrote:I think we can manage it being closed before the year of the match even starts

I have 50 quid on it.

I'm saving my 'crash' post until the tension builds enough.

Im wearing rainbow laces in support of you

SecretFly wrote:When is the England Wales game anyway?

I want to be safely in my survivalist bunker by the time that one starts.  I'd recommend England save a substantial bit of juice for that game.  It's top box-office fare.  Come to Dublin with only a 50% mindset and we'll take care of the rest.  

Week 3 I believe.

Once England win that one, there will be very little standing between us and another Slam.

TightHEAD wrote:I fully expect England to have plenty of ball to play with.

Well you'll have it in the warm up anyway.

I find it bizarre that people are giving England a chance in Dublin - we must've watched different games over the Autumn.

England are not going to get the usual rub of the green away from home.

munkian wrote:
England are not going to get the usual rub of the green away from home.

Give over, he tried to wrap the arm both times...

Brendan wrote:I think if Ireland pass this test with flying colours they will do the a grand slam.  I think it would settle the players and first game is always the hardest when you rely on the system.

If we fall over the line or loose could be a different story and could end up 4/5th had be called chookers for 6 months.

I think we have a great squad and the players like Conway to scored 3 and set up 2 (I think) is pushing but knows the players above are also doing great.  Henderson currently is in danger of falling to 4th lock because of poor performances.  Any player droping standards and they could fall out of the WC squad.

I don't think there is any question that the two toughest tests for Ireland will be England and Wales. Given that Ireland have England at home I think that the Wales game will be the tougher one. Im basing this on the unsurprising fact that Ireland's home form is better than away form.

Based on form in 2018 its not surprising that the fixture list places the Ireland v Wales game as the last game of the season fixture for Ireland.

Didn't get much rub of th green at home either so by that logic we're dead and buried already.

rodders wrote:

munkian wrote:
England are not going to get the usual rub of the green away from home.

Give over, he tried to wrap the arm both times...

It’s amazing how many of them are constantly flooding Wales threads with ref accusations, yet they don’t put nearly as much effort into discussing a blatant shoulder charge that Farrell got away with not once, but twice! The one against Aus was arguably a penalty try. Before the Wales-haters come on, I don’t believe that would have changed the result of the game. Eddie’s England have Aus’s number for sure.

No 7&1/2 wrote:I'm fairly sure there will be mistakes from officials as they're human.

Of course, consistency is the least we can ask for. We didn’t get it in last years 6N.

You're unlikely to get that across games either mikey. We did see consistency across the sa england game and its rightly criticised for endangering players and not achieving what the new rulings set out to do.

Every tackle Farrell made during the Autumn Internationals was a legal tackle.

I hope he keeps up his 110% commitment during the 6 nations.
But I wouldn't be surprised to start to see some play acting from the players he tackles in future, especially from the Irish lads, as I hear their defence coach really wants to bash him.

Bloody 110%. One of the most annoying phrases used in sport. If you can give an extra 10% effort/commitment then you were not giving 100% previously.

I know that's why I used it.

LondonTiger wrote:Bloody 110%. One of the most annoying phrases used in sport. If you can give an extra 10% effort/commitment then you were not giving 100% previously.

Generously, it could be 110% of the average commitment. But yeah, it's not the best phrase. If you say you gave 110% for a specific game, what you're actually saying is that you gave 90.9% at best in previous games.

110% is rubbish.

The accurate calculation for any extra effort shown above 100% is 105.6239% (Harvard Study)

..I hear it's also a figure of speech sometimes too......

110% is (or at least was) a real thing rather than pure hyperbole. I'm pretty sure it comes from the way the throttles on a Naval vessel used to work. The engines were rated to be able to run at a certain speed indefinitely, but the throttles were set up so that you could run above that level at the risk of overheating or damaging the engine. So under normal conditions you would run the engines at 100% of their safe operating speed, but in extremis you could go to 110% for short periods.

...which means that the logical conclusion is that someone who "always gives 110%" will spend a lot of time injured. Far better to give 100% most of the time and only step it up to 110% in desperation, assuming you want a longer career.

On Farrells tackles, both were seen by the ref and deemed illiberal so they were.

I would assume shoulder charges (as in shoulder to shoulder) are not allowed but should they be. Also should the actions of the ball runner be reviewed more such as shouldering the tackler, which seemed to be what the ref was saying.

TightHEAD wrote:Every tackle Farrell made during the Autumn Internationals was a legal tackle.

I hope he keeps up his 110% commitment during the 6 nations.

Well he used 100% of his shoulder and 10% of his arms I suppose.

TightHEAD wrote:Every tackle Farrell made during the Autumn Internationals was a legal tackle.

I hope he keeps up his 110% commitment during the 6 nations.
But I wouldn't be surprised to start to see some play acting from the players he tackles in future, especially from the Irish lads, as I hear their defence coach really wants to bash him.

Um not according to the ref of the Boks game who has admitted he was wrong, as for the Aussie's game debate isn't even necessary. Peyper should be fired a s a ref not just for his error but for his asinine comment that Rodda - the ball carrier - also dropped his shoulder.

Sh refs eh. Crazy devil's.

SH refs are atrocious.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Sh refs eh. Crazy devil's.

Not a crazy as the Irish rugby fraternity. Played with an Irish hooker in the 70's, he wore glass contact lenses, the larger variety before the modern smaller lens size came out. As he is eyes were totally sealed off from the air, he used to rub horse liniment into his beard. You can imagine the effect that had on his opposite number and the tight head. He managed to play into his thirties before a lens got broken, luckily it only scratched the outer areas and the lens was okay.

I was also coached at the tender age of 8/9 by an Irish friar, who attempted to tell our props to bind under the armpit, grasp the hair and pull down. He had to be told by a 9 year old that boys of that age tend not to have hairy armpits, he was totally mystified. Oh well, the joys of monastic life.

So this is where everyone’s been hiding!

6N war before Christmas

January is going to be a blood bath!

rodders wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Every tackle Farrell made during the Autumn Internationals was a legal tackle.

I hope he keeps up his 110% commitment during the 6 nations.

Well he used 100% of his shoulder and 10% of his arms I suppose.

Yep, hes just copying canes on henshaw, very legal, and effective. Well put.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Sh refs eh. Crazy devil's.

Not a crazy as the Irish rugby fraternity. Played with an Irish hooker in the 70's, he wore glass contact lenses, the larger variety before the modern smaller lens size came out. As he is eyes were totally sealed off from the air, he used to rub horse liniment into his beard. You can imagine the effect that had on his opposite number and the tight head. He managed to play into his thirties before a lens got broken, luckily it only scratched the outer areas and the lens was okay.

I was also coached at the tender age of 8/9 by an Irish friar, who attempted to tell our props to bind under the armpit, grasp the hair and pull down. He had to be told by a 9 year old that boys of that age tend not to have hairy armpits, he was totally mystified. Oh well, the joys of monastic life.

That gets my favorite post of the decade - 20/10.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

No 7&1/2 wrote:Sh refs eh. Crazy devil's.

Not a crazy as the Irish rugby fraternity. Played with an Irish hooker in the 70's, he wore glass contact lenses, the larger variety before the modern smaller lens size came out. As he is eyes were totally sealed off from the air, he used to rub horse liniment into his beard. You can imagine the effect that had on his opposite number and the tight head. He managed to play into his thirties before a lens got broken, luckily it only scratched the outer areas and the lens was okay.

I was also coached at the tender age of 8/9 by an Irish friar, who attempted to tell our props to bind under the armpit, grasp the hair and pull down. He had to be told by a 9 year old that boys of that age tend not to have hairy armpits, he was totally mystified. Oh well, the joys of monastic life.

Not Ampleforth then. Those monks know all about............

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

I was also coached at the tender age of 8/9 by an Irish friar, who attempted to tell our props to bind under the armpit, grasp the hair and pull down. He had to be told by a 9 year old that boys of that age tend not to have hairy armpits, he was totally mystified. Oh well, the joys of monastic life.

Well, at least it was a still a mystery to him, which is a bonus for the boys under his tutelage.

rodders wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Every tackle Farrell made during the Autumn Internationals was a legal tackle.

I hope he keeps up his 110% commitment during the 6 nations.

Well he used 100% of his shoulder and 10% of his arms I suppose.

So he attempted to wrap his arms then. End of debate.

No Farrell attempted to shoulder charge the Aussie and Saffer. He got a yellow in RWC 2015 v Australia for something similar and he will again.

I disagree, he attempted to wrap his arms.

They were legal tackles, in that they weren't penalised at the time. If anyone anyone wants to wager that identical tackles will not be penalised in the future then I'm sure they'll be able to find plenty of takers.

Not going to comment on Farrell - didn't see the games really.

But as regards legal and not being penalised and the two meaning the same thing.  Well, again, maybe.  Arguable I suppose.

But I just keep remembering one instance in an Ireland game (not the ABs game) when Marmion was hit with a whopper from behind without the ball.  Now nobody seems to have noticed it, talked about it or asked for a TMO reading on it.  So it wasn't penalised.  But it was never legal - the hit.

So if something is not penalised it has to be legal - at last vindication for all referees everywhere, and the end of interminable debate...

Regardless of its legality the tackle on Rodda was unbelievable. For a 10 to stop a second row on the charge 5m out dead in his tracks is quite something, especially as he wasn't even tackling head on.

It should have definitely been a penalty try and yellow card. But if Farrell had have gone cheek-to-cheek and wrapped Rodda's legs, the lock would have fallen forward and reached his freakishly long arms over the tryline and Australia would have had 7 points anyway.

The South Africa one is more borderline. I believe someone important has come out and said it was the wrong call (either elite referees panel or World Rugby, someone official though). Which is fine, but there were other bad tackles in that very game (Snyman) that also weren't penalised.

Farrell would do well to avoid incident in the Six Nations so some of the furore around his tackle technique dies down, as he will be watched more closely and I think referees will potentially refer more of his hits if they're not sure based on these two incidents and the press they have got.

The last thing we want in a World Cup knockout game would be a referee to analyse one of our players tackling to the nth degree on slow-mo replays from 13 different camera angles, while others get away with similar tackles unchecked.

Interesting to see that so many injured and missing players are on the way back. Hopefully they can get and remain fit and give Eddie some more difficult choices.


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-6435447/Ten-England-stars-primed-return-injury-Six-Nations.html?ito=email_share_article-image-share

Yep, England to win this time with the returners. Were pretty good without them.

All done and dusted then. Ingerland to win. We might as well send out the team we played against the USA for experience

Its between England wales and ireland. Ireland still favourites but who knows.

As it ever was, Guns.

Except when France challenged, of course. Seems a long time ago now.

Fixture list favors Wales this year with either Ireland or England going to have their tournament decided in week 1.

My guess is Irish will prevail against England and likely face Wales in Cardiff for Slam decider last game...just like in 05....however the Irish side of today is IMO the strongest team on the planet.

Geen sport voor watjes wrote:All done and dusted then. Ingerland to win. We might as well send out the team we played against the USA for experience

I hope we do. Use our 3rd string and be happy coming in third this year. Can't be greedy.

Pie wrote:Fixture list favors Wales this year with either Ireland or England going to have their tournament decided in week 1.

My guess is Irish will prevail against England and likely face Wales in Cardiff for Slam decider last game...just like in 05....however the Irish side of today is IMO the strongest team on the planet.

Whatever about being strongest on the planet, I certainly think it's the strongest (as a squad) that I've ever seen Ireland. I mean seriously potent in all areas and probably the most important bit for me - they keep resetting themselves throughout a game. They don't let much rattle them. Other sides can score tries but Ireland kind of mentally reset all through a game. There is some good psychology going on there.

Anyway.... on them being the best I've ever seen them.... just thinking back to Warburton in interview recently saying that Ireland were always his toughest assignment. And in my opinion he played them when they just hadn't really clicked yet (as a squad). They were a work in progress.

Wales could win on that final day but they'll have to stay on their toes to the very end coz that's how Ireland now play - hard to the very end.